Animal waste receptacle having vibration directed flow

ABSTRACT

An method and apparatus for receiving and mixing a portion of animal waste material and sand includes a receptacle capable of allowing an animal to enter therein and receiving a portion of animal waste material; and a vibrating motor communicating with the receptacle for causing the animal waste material to move in a predetermined path. A removable trap for receiving and retaining at least a portion of the animal waste material may be located in the predetermined path. A catcher may be applied to communicate with the sand and animal waste material for receiving and retaining at least a portion of the animal waste material while the vibrating motor is operating.

This application is a division of Ser. No. 09/850,548 filed May 7, 2001,now U.S. Pat No. 6,837,180.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to animal waste receptacles. Morespecifically, but without limitation, the present invention relates tofeline waste receptacles for receiving and retaining both solid andliquid wastes. Such devices are commonly known as “cat boxes”. It isoften desirable to house animals, such as cats, inside human dwellingsor other enclosures such as animal hospitals, animal shelters, animalpounds or the like. When a cat desires to eliminate waste materials inthe form of urine and/or fecal matter, a receptacle having a quantity ofmaterial, such as sand, is commonly provided. Such receptacles usuallyinclude a bottom with upwardly facing sides. The bottom may be square,round, rectangular, oval or other shape. The top is open to provideentry/exit for the cat. After elimination is completed, the cat usuallyattempts to scrape the sand with a paw to move a portion of the sandover the waste material thereby burying or “covering” the wastematerial. If the covering is successful, the now buried fecal and urinematter initially emits little or no odor. If unsuccessful, an offensiveodor is immediately emitted. In addition, as the natural biodegradationof the excreted matter progresses and as the cat box is continuallyused, odors become prominent and highly offensive, as many cat ownerscan attest. Soon, the urine soaked sand and fecal matter must beremoved, usually by an unhappy owner and eventually the sand must bediscarded and renewed—a most unpleasant task.

There have been many attempts to produce improved cat boxes. Theseimprovements attempt to, for example, reduce odors and/or to remove theoffending fecal matter from the box.

One such device, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,812 to Waters,discloses a comb to move fecal matter into a disposal receptacle aftereach usage.

Another device, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,465 to Carlisi,discloses a litter box having a moving and upwardly rotating rake tomove solid waste material into a storage tray.

Another device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,379 to Hoeschan,discloses a rotating cylinder for separating animal litter from wastematerial.

Still another device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,947 to Christman,discloses three identical litter trays, nestled together, with openingsfor sifting the sand from the fecal and urine clumps.

However, none of these attempts provide a device that thoroughly mixesthe sand, fecal matter and urine by vibrations to reduce odors andextend the time between cleanings and provide, if desired, a trap forautomatically retaining waste products therein for selected disposal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention providesa receptacle for receiving and retaining a portion of cat litter (i.e.sand) and for allowing an animal to enter and deposit waste material(both solid and liquid) therein; and a vibrating motor attached to thereceptacle for causing the sand and waste material to move in apredetermined (i.e. flow) path. The movement (mixing) of the sand notonly reduces the puddling of urine in the bottom portions of thereceptacle and speeds up the dehydration process of both the urinesoaked sand and solid (fecal) matter but also allows the solid wastematerial to be collected, if desired. As a result, offensive odors arereduced and the useful life of the sand is increased. This embodimentincludes no parts, moving or otherwise, inside the receptacle.

The present invention may also include a trap located in thepredetermined (i.e. flow) path of the sand and waste material forreceiving and retaining, in the trap, at least a portion of the solidwaste material in the receptacle. The trap is preferably attachedproximate one end of the receptacle and may be removable to facilitatecleaning of the trap.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a catcher that maybe placed in the receptacle when it is desired to collect and remove thefecal matter contained in the receptacle. The catcher is placed in thereceptacle (the center is preferred), the vibrating motor turned on, andthe action of the moving sand causes the catcher to collect and retainat least a portion of the fecal matter located in the receptacle. Aftercollection, the catcher, with fecal matter therein, may be removed,cleaned and reused. The catcher, with fecal matter therein, may also bedisposed of and a new catcher used at the time of the next cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiment, the appended claims and the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top and front of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom and back of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a x-section of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a x-section of the present invention taken along line 5-5 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is ax-section of the present invention taken along line 6-6 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the present invention showing the preferred flowpaths proximate the trap.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 a is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the weight.

FIG. 9 b is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the weight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by wayof example in FIGS. 1 to 8. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the animalwaste receptacle 2 of present invention includes receptacle 4, trap 6,baffle 8, base 10 and vibrating motor 12.

Receptacle 4 includes bottom 14, first side 16, first end 18, secondside 20 and second end 22. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, sides 16 and 20and ends 18 and 22 have an upwardly extending concave shape and areattached to bottom 14 via curved transition 32. FIG. 4 shows thepreferred, elongated shape of receptacle 4 with generally straight sides16 and 20 and curved ends 18 and 22. The 1 to w ratio (1/w) of thepreferred embodiment (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is approximately 1.5 thepreferred length approximately 24 inches and the preferred widthapproximately 16 inches. The preferred depth, d, is approximately 5inches. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention hasan 1 to w ratio of 1.5, receptacle 4 may be other shapes such as oval,round, square, elliptical and/or have other 1 to w ratios. In addition,the upwardly extending ends 18 and 22 and upwardly extending sides 16and 20, may be curved differently than as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, forexample, curving outwardly or inwardly, as desired. The sides and endsmay also be straight, extending, for example, inwardly, outwardly orvertically. Transition 32 may be more or less curved (or straight) oreliminated altogether, for example, when bottom 14 is joined directly toends 18 and 22 or to sides 16 and 20. Ends 18 and 22 may have adifferent curve than as shown in FIG. 4 or be straight. When one or moreof sides 16 and 20, ends 18 and 22 or bottom 14 is/are altered,transitions 24, 26, 28 and 30 and transition 32 may be suitably alteredto effect the desired shape. It should be noted that sides 16 and 20 andends 18 and 22 are high enough and curved enough so that when a animal,such as a cat, is eliminating waste material in the form of urine(liquid) and/or fecal (solid) matter in receptacle 4, the buttocks ofthe animal will contact or be below lip 38 thereby positioning thebuttocks in a spaced relationship with either one of the sides 16 or 20or ends 18 or 22. In this way, any waste material will be betterdeposited inside of receptacle 4 and not upon the sides or ends ofreceptacle 4 or outside receptacle 4. Receptacle 4 is preferrably madefrom a plastic material that is impervious to cleaning solutions, acidsand other substances that may be commonly encountered in the desiredapplication, such as, ammonia and uretic acid. Other materials may besubstituted. Lip 38 extends around the uppermost perimeter of receptacle4. Grips 34 and 36 are formed in the upwardly portions of ends 18 and22, respectively. As can be seen in the drawings, receptacle 4 isfashioned to facilitate the entry and exit of an animal, such as a catby providing a depression 17 in the approximate center of second side 20(as shown) or first side 16 (not shown). In addition, a top (not shown)such as a canopy may be provided over all or a portion of receptacle 4for aesthetic or other purposes such as strengthening receptacle 4 fromunwanted flexing or for enviromental purposes such as preventing entryof rain. A canopy may also function to channel away odors and used inaccordance with suitable venting apparatus, such as fan and conduit, ifdesired.

In operation, receptacle 4 contains a portion of material 39 thatcommunicates with waste material usually deposited directly thereon byan animal. For example, such material 39 may be sand or commerciallyavailable natural or synthetic materials commonly referred to as “catlitter”. Hereinafter, such materials shall be referred to as “sand”.

Vibrating motor 12 is attached to outside 15 of bottom 14 via bolts 40and nuts 41, see FIGS. 2 and 3. Bolts 40 are located in countersunkbores 42. Vibrating motor 12 includes shaft 46, bearing 45, weight 44,motor 47 and power cord 55. Power supply 57 provides a preferred 9-14volts to motor 47. Shaft 46 extends outwardly from bearing 45 and motor47. Weight 44 includes bore 48 that communicates with shaft 46. Setscrew50, located in bore 52, secures weight 44 to shaft 46. The preferredembodiment of weight 44 is shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b wherein H1=0.625inches; H2=0.5 inches; H3=0.25 inches; L1=0.875 inches; L2=1 inch; L3=1inch; L4=0.75 inches; L5=0.5 inches; W1=1.25 inches; W2=0.625 inches.Weight 44 may be fabricated from a solid piece or from separate piecesand attached, for example, by welding, gluing or other means. Weight 44is preferably fabricated from a material such as mild steel, SAE 1010 orSAE 1020. Other dimensions may be used and other shapes of weight 44 maybe substituted. It should be noted that bore 48 is offset, i.e. locatedcloser to end 51 than to end 53. Such offset and the weight distributionof weight 44 cause vibrating motor 12 to vibrate when in motion therebycausing at least a portion of sand 39 and at least a portion of anywaste material in receptacle 4 to be moved in a substantiallypredetermined path. In the preferred embodiment, such path P (see FIG.4) is generally around axis X of shaft 46 which is located in theapproximate center of bottom 14. Vibrating motor 12, may be located atother locations on the outside 15 or inside 13 of bottom 14 or on theinside or outside of sides 16 or 20 or ends 18 or 22 of receptacle 4. Inaddition, more than one vibrating motor 12 may be employed. It should benoted that vibrating motor 12 may be operated in a first direction, forexample, counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 4, thus causing sand 39 andany waste material to move in a first path P, i.e. generallycounterclockwise around axis X. Similarly, vibrating motor 12 may beoperated in a second direction, for example, clockwise, thus causingsand 39 and any waste material to move in a second path, opposite pathP, i.e. generally clockwise around axis X. A suitable and preferredvibrating motor 12 is a low profile (pancake) D.C. motor model number14-PA090D-24V commercially available from Tripac Corporation, 5703Crawford Lane, Fort Worth, Tex., 76119. Such motor has the followingrated specifications: 24 volt; 2350 rpm plus or minus 300 rpm; 4.2 ampsplus or minus 1 amp; reversible; 65 bB(A) 24V no load in clockwisedirection; 65 dB(A) 24V no load in counterclockwise direction; steelcasing; ball bearing; carbon steel shaft. Other motors may also be used.

Vibrating motor 12 may be operated at different speeds. For example,when vibrating motor 12 is operated at higher speeds (14 voltssupplied), sand 39 moves faster. When vibrating motor 12 is operated atlower speeds (9 volts supplied), sand 39 moves slower. In addition, sand39 tends to maintain a uniform level in receptacle 4 when vibratingmotor 12 is operated at lower speeds. It can thus be seen that the speedof vibrating motor 12 may be varied to effect a more uniform depth ofsand in receptacle 4. It should be noted that when sand 39 is moving inpath P, for example, individual sand particles move relative to oneanother as well as relative to any waste material present in receptacle4, thereby effecting a mixing action of the sand and waste material.

In operation, vibrating motor 12 may be operated at higher speeds to mixsand 39 rapidly and move waste material rapidly to be retained in trap 6(if present). Thereafter, vibrating motor 12 may be operated at slowerspeeds to effect a more uniform depth of sand in receptacle 4.

It should also be noted that weight 44, shaft 46 and bearing 45 may beattached to receptacle 4 without motor 47. In such a case, motor 47 maybe remotely located and may communicate with shaft 46 via chain andsprocket, belt and pulley, gears, magnetic means or by other means knownin the art.

Indexer 56 is attached to bottom 14 via screw 60 located in countersunkbore 64 (see FIG. 3). Screw 60 communicates with threaded bore 76.Indexer 58 is attached to bottom 14 via first end of threaded stud 62located in bore 66 and nut 65. First end of stud 62 communicates withthreaded bore 78. Second end of stud 62 communicates with trap 6 whichwill be hereinafter fully described. Indexers 56 and 58 extend outwardlyfrom bottom 14 and include shoulders 70 and 72, respectively.

Base 10, shown in FIG. 3, is located between receptacle 4 and thedesired location of litter box 2, for example, the concrete floor of agarage or the tiled or carpeted floor of a residence (see FIG. 3). Itshould be noted that such locations are numbered as 80 in the drawingsand are referred to as “floor”. Base 10 communicates with receptacle 4and positions receptacle 4 in a spaced relationship with floor 80.Cutout 82 provides clearance for vibrating motor 12 in base 10. Bores 84and 86 receive indexers 56 and 58, respectively when receptacle 4 iscommunicating with base 10. In the preferred embodiment, the diameteralclearance between an indexer and its respective bore is approximately0.25 inch. Base 10 is preferrably fabricated from an open cellpolyethylene foam having noise and vibration absorbing qualties. Othertypes of foam or other materials may be substituted, as desired. It hasbeen found that base 10 decreases noise, reduces “skating”, that is, themovement of receptacle 10 on floor 80, and provides clearance forvibrating motor 12 from floor 80. Although base 10 is preferred, animalwaste receptacle 2 may be operated without base 10. For example, whenleg 19 is sufficiently long to position vibrating motor 12 above floor80 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) or, for example, when other means are employedthat eliminate the need to space receptacle 4 a distance above floor 80or when noise and vibration absorbing qualties are not required. Itshould be noted that the drawings show leg 19 having different lengths,for example, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, leg 19 is shorter than in FIGS. 3, 5and 6. In addition, FIG. 3 shows leg 19 extending into base 10.

Trap 6 is preferably attached to inside 13 of bottom 14 via stud 62 andwing nut 88. As shown in FIG. 3, stud 62 is located in bores 90 and 92of trap 6 and in bore 66 of receptacle 4. Trap 6 includes side 93 havingopening 94, door 96, pivot 98, top 100 and bottom 102. In the preferredembodiment, trap 6 is approximately 6 inches in diameter and 7 incheshigh. Door 96 is approximately 4 inches high and 7 inches long. Itshould be noted that door 96 is approximately the same size as opening94. Door 96 may be in the open position as shown, for example, in FIGS.1 and 7, or in the closed position with edge 97 abutting edge 95 (notshown). Side 93, door 96 and bottom 102 are fabricated, for example,from galvanized coated steel wire 104, of preferred diameter 0.035 inch,formed to provide a mesh 108 having approximately 0.5 inch squareopenings 106. Mesh 108 is commonly referred to as hardware cloth.Openings 106 of 0.5 inch are provided to permit sand 39 to pass throughyet retain waste products larger than approximately 0.5 inch. Smaller orlarger openings 106 may be used as well as different diameters of wire104. In addition, the shape of openings 106 may be different, such as,round, rectangular or other shapes.

Vibrating motor 12 causes sand 39 to continuously move in receptacle 4in a preferred path P substantially around receptacle 4, as shown inFIG. 4. Accordingly, trap 6 is located in path P, preferably adjacentsecond end 22 (see FIG. 7). When door 96 is in the open position andabutting second end 22, trap 6 and door 96 extend substantially acrosspath P. In this way, sand 39 is caused to pass through trap 6 and door96 upon every cycle of the sand's rotation around receptacle 4.Accordingly, any waste material will be caused to enter trap 6 and beretained therein.

More specifically, opening 94 and door 96 of trap 6 are positioned andarranged in path P so that edge 97 abuts second end 22, as shown in FIG.7. When vibrating motor 12 is operating and sand 39 and waste material(if any) are moving in the direction of path P, a first portion of sand39 and waste material enters trap 6 through opening 94 as indicated byarrows D1 in FIG. 7. A second portion of sand 39 and waste materialapproach door 96 as indicated by arrows D2 in FIG. 7, wherein asubstantial portion of the second portion of sand 39 passes throughopenings 106 in door 96 and continues in the direction indicated byarrows A (see FIG. 7). Waste material larger than openings 106 isdiverted by door 96 along a path indicated by arrow D3 in FIG. 7 andinto trap 6. Waste material larger than openings 106 is retained in trap6 and sand 39 in trap 6 passes through openings 106 in side 93 andcontinues in the direction indicated by arrows B.

Baffle 8, having first end 9 and second end 11, is attached toreceptacle 4 via screws 110 located in bores 112 (not shown) of tabs 113and through bores 114 (not shown) located in bottom 14. Baffle 8 ispositioned and arranged preferably as shown in FIG. 1, with first end 9proximate edge 95 and abutting side 93 of trap 6. When positionedsubstantially as shown in FIG. 1, baffle 8 reduces short circuiting ofsand 39 in path P and thereby improves the quality of flowcharacteristics. For example, baffle 8 reduces eddying in the vicinityof trap 6 indicated as C in FIG. 7.

When it is desired to remove waste material retained in trap 6, door 96is moved so that edge 97 is proximate edge 95. Closing door 96 may befacilitated by operating vibrating motor 12 while applying force to door96. With vibrating motor 12 off, wing nut 88 is removed and trap 6 islifted upwardly at a rate sufficient to permit sand 39 to exit trap 6downwardly through bottom 102. Trap 6 may be discarded and a new oneinstalled or trap 6 may be emptied and reinstalled. Installation may befacilitated by operating vibrating motor 12 while pressing trap 6downwardly while positioned over stud 62 or by rotating trap 6 back andforth (i.e. clockwise then counterclockwise then repeat as necessary)while pressing downwardly. Wingnut 88 may then be installed andtightened on stud 62.

Another embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 8) includesreceptacle 4, vibrating motor 12, base 10 (if desired) and catcher 120.Catcher 120 includes top 122, handle 124, side 126, first opening 128,second opening 129, wing 130, wing 131 and bottom 132 having openings134. In the preferred embodiment, catcher 120 is approximately 6 incheshigh and approximately 6 inches in diameter. Wings 130 and 131 arecurved and extend outwardly so that the distance between end 136 and end137 is approximately the width, w, of receptacle 4. Openings 134 arelarge enough to permit sand 39 to exit therethrough but small enough toprevent the passage of solid waste material and are preferably 0.5inches square. First and second openings, 128 and 129 respectively, areapproximately 6 inches long and 5 inches high.

In operation, receptacle 4 and vibrating motor 12 are operated in themanner previously described, causing sand 39 and any waste materialtherein to move in the substantially predetermined path, P. Suchoperation, moves, mixes and distributes sand 39 and waste materialthroughout receptacle 4 reducing odors and increasing the useful life ofsand 39. When it is desired to remove solid waste material fromreceptacle 4, catcher 120 is placed at the approximate center ofreceptacle 4, in a free floating manner, as shown in FIG. 8, andvibrating motor is started thereby causing sand 39 and any wastematerial to move in a predetermined path, for example, path P (see FIG.4). The action of the moving sand, 39, causes catcher 120 to rotate onits own axis and in the same direction as path P and to move downwardlyuntil bottom 132 is located beneath the surface of sand 39. Solid wastematerial enters both first and second openings 128 and 129 respectively,and remains inside catcher 120. After the solid waste material iscollected inside catcher 120, vibrating motor 12 is stopped and catcher120 is removed from receptacle 4 by grasping handle 124 and pullingupwardly while maintaining catcher 120 approximately horizontal. Sand 39exits catcher 120 through openings 134. Solid waste material is retainedon bottom 132. Catcher 120 and the solid waste material may both bedisposed of or the solid waste material dumped and catcher 120 reused.It should be noted that first and second wings, 130 and 131, are notrequired but reduce the tendency of solid waste material to remainagainst first side 16 and second side 20 when traveling in path P.Catcher 120 may be other shapes, such as, square, triangle orrectangular. Wings 130 and 131 also increase the rotational speed ofcatcher 120.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced other than as specifically described.

1. An apparatus having a quantity of sand therein, for receiving andmixing waste material, the apparatus comprising: a) a receptacle forallowing an animal to enter and deposit waste material therein; b) avibrating motor communicating with said receptacle for causing said sandand said waste material to move in a predetermined path; c) a catcherthat communicates with said sand and waste material in a free floatingmanner for receiving and retaining therein at least a portion of saidwaste material, said catcher including at least one side with an openingfor receiving said sand and said waste material, said catcher alsoincluding a bottom with at least one opening for allowing said sand toexit said catcher, said catcher having at least one wing communicatingwith said moving sand in said receptacle.
 2. The apparatus defined inclaim 1, wherein said catcher rotates.
 3. An animal waste receptacle,having a quantity of sand therein, said animal waste receptacle forreceiving and mixing waste material and said sand, comprising areceptacle having a bottom and upwardly extending sides and ends, saidsides and ends forming a perimeter around the outside of said bottom,said receptacle capable of retaining sand and waste material at anylocation inside said perimeter, a vibration source producing vibrationsthat communicate with said receptacle and cause said sand and said wastematerial to be directed in a substantially horizontal direction whensaid vibration source is operated, further including a catcher forremoving waste material from said receptacle, said catcher placed insaid receptacle and acted upon by said moving sand, said catcher havingat least one entry opening, said waste material entering said at leastone entry opening and remaining inside said catcher and said catcherhaving at least one exit opening, said sand exiting said catcher throughsaid exit opening.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein saidcatcher rotates.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein saidcatcher is rotated by the action of said moving sand and said catcherrotates in the same direction as the moving sand.
 6. An animal wastereceptacle, having a quantity of sand therein, said animal wastereceptacle for receiving and mixing waste material and said sand,comprising a receptacle having a bottom and upwardly extending sides andends, said sides and ends forming a perimeter around the outside of saidbottom, said receptacle capable of retaining sand and waste material atany location inside said perimeter, a vibration source producingvibrations that communicate with said receptacle and cause said sand andsaid waste material to be directed in a substantially horizontaldirection when said vibration source is operated, further including acatcher for collecting and removing waste material from said receptacle,said catcher having a bottom, said bottom having at least one exitopening large enough to permit said sand to exit therethrough but smallenough to prevent the passage of waste material, said catcher alsohaving at least one entry opening for permitting said sand and saidwaste material to enter said catcher through said entry opening, saidwaste material collected in said catcher and remaining in said catcher.7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein said bottom of said catcheris flat, said bottom located parallel to said bottom of said receptacle.8. An apparatus for collecting waste material the apparatus having aquantity of sand therein, the apparatus comprising: a) a receptacle, b)a vibration source producing vibrations that communicate with saidreceptacle and cause said sand to move in said receptacle around avertically extending axis, c) a catcher communicating with said sand andsaid waste material said catcher having an entry opening and an exitopening, said exit opening of a size large enough to permit anindividual sand particle to exit said catcher therethrough but smallenough to prevent the passage of said solid waste material larger thansaid exit opening, said entry opening of a size larger than said exitopening, said waste material larger than said exit opening remaining insaid catcher.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, said receptaclefurther including a bottom, said catcher rotated by the action of themoving sand and rotating on its own axis, said axis normal to saidbottom of said receptacle.
 10. The apparatus defined in claim 8, saidexit opening located below said entry opening when said catcher is beingrotated by the action of the moving sand.
 11. The apparatus defined inclaim 8, said catcher further including a handle.
 12. The apparatusdefined in claim 8, said catcher further including a wing said wingcommunicating with said sand.